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2019 August 1

This modern offshore cruiser has serious sea legs

The new Hallberg-Rassy models designed by German Frers are always fun to review. I get a wry smile when I look at the new designs considering what HRs looked like 45 years ago when my Valiant 40 was i
2019 August 1

This roomy, capable and well-built cruiser is ocean crossing ready

The Pacific Seacraft Orion 27 has been called many things, from an overbuilt floating apartment to the sort of boat an adventurous sailor might choose to sail around the world. During production in th
2019 June 1

his sexy-looking center-cockpit cruiser is built to last

When you first look at the profiles of the new Gunfleet 43 and the Allures 40.9 you might peg them as very similar boats. The profiles look very similar and LODs are within a foot. But they are really
2019 June 1

Built in aluminum, this centerboarder is ready for thin-water cruising

This month we have two very similarly sized and styled European production boats and one very unusual training dinghy to review. The Allures 40.9 is a Berret-Racoupeau design. It’s a handsome boat i
2019 May 1

This affordable coastal cruiser has plenty of room for entertaining

The Hunter design team was listening carefully to what potential buyers had in mind in the late 1990s when it came to building the ideal racer-cruiser, with an emphasis on the latter. The result was t
2019 May 1

The latest French-designed, American-built cruiser has plenty of power in a stylish package

Beneteau has long had the ability to put the go-fast into sailboats, with many of the boats in its First line winning offshore and inshore races. It even launched the foiling Figaro 3. Cushy comforts
2019 May 1

Trailerability is the key to this motorsailer

Here is a trailerable pocket cruiser that is built in Ventura, California, and designed by Heraldo Ruesch. It’s a lot of boat in 23 feet and has been designed to perform both under sail and with a l
2019 May 1

This new folding racer- cruiser is primed to take over the title of most popular trimaran from its predecessor

Without a doubt, the Corsair F27 has been the most popular trimaran design of all time. It’s in the Sailboat Hall of Fame. But the Corsair group thought it was time to replace that model and has com
2019 May 1

This sexy offshore racer-cruiser has plenty of power for racing combined with simple cruising comfort

The latest sportboat from the J/Boats crew is this J/99 designed by Alan Johnstone. It follows on the tremendous success of the J/121 and J/112E models. It’s a hot rod but it has comfortable accommo
2019 April 1

A catamaran designed to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act gets its owners back on the water

I don’t often review “conceptual designs.” But in looking for something out of the ordinary to review I think this new project of mine deserves to be considered. Let me start by showing you
2019 April 1

Good looking and comfortable, this cruising catamaran provides excellent performance for island sailing

Let’s see what the Leopard group can do with 50 feet of LOA. Design work was done by  Simonis & Voogd Yacht Design for the hull and rig. Interior and exterior styling is by Robertson and Ca
2019 April 1

This cleverly designed catamaran is ready for cruising

To a monohull sailor, cruising cats can look awkward. But there is a lot of square footage to their footprint and different aesthetic standards need to be applied. I see a lot of interesting styling t
2019 March 1

This entry-level family cruiser has packed in everything for fun sailing

Here is a very interesting 30-footer—its actually 29 feet 6 inches—from Beneteau for its Oceanis series. The design is by Finot-Conq with an interior design from the Nauta Design studio. This
2019 March 1

This French cruiser sets a unique course for offshore sailing

Here is a beautiful new 60-footer from Amel that comes just two years after it introduced the Amel 50. It’s a handsome design in the contemporary Euro style from the office of Berret-Racoupeau Yacht
2019 March 1

A roomy pocket-cruiser that’s a breeze to sail

It’s not hard to understand why the original Cal 25 appealed to so many sailors. It was relatively inexpensive, easy to maintain, comfortable below deck and fun to sail. Jensen Marine built 1,848 of
2019 March 1

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 319 is a new entry-level cruiser that packs all the best of a big cruiser in an affordable package

The test boat came with the standard stainless steel bow roller, but the 319 is available with an optional sprit to fly an asymmetrical spinnaker or code zero. The new Sun Odyssey 319 sails into
2019 February 1

Straight from Finland, the latest elegant family cruiser is teeming with comfort and high style

I think anything that comes out of the Nautor’s yard in Finland is interesting. But this new Frers designed Swan 54 is truly beautiful. If you go back to the early 1970s you’ll find what I co
2019 February 1

If cruising to the ends of the Earth is your goal, this is your boat

Here is an interesting design from Owen Clarke specifically designed for high-altitude cruising. I think that means you will need a very durable boat that will keep you safe, warm and protected. It’
2019 January 1

A big fast cruiser that has everything you need to sail in comfort and style

The new Xp 55 from X-Yachts has far more features than I can describe given my word limit. I guess it would be a cliché to say “they have thought of everything” but it seems that is the case. Wit
2019 January 1

This family cruiser has classic American styling and plenty of creature comforts

In a bold and rare move, Tartan designer Tim Jackett broke with the accepted Euro-styling movement and designed a new boat with classic American yacht proportions. Good on  ya, Tim.  I rea

Perry on Design

  • An American-built pilothouse cruiser keeps you out of the rain

  • This performance cruiser has Italian flair

  • Retro style but modern performance are the trademarks of this new cruiser

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